Lévis Shipyard to Refit Canada CG Icebreaker

MarineLink.com

Friday, April 25, 2014

Photo: Canadian Coast Guard

Government of Canada Awards Babcock Canada Inc. a $6.5 Million Contract for Refit Work on the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent

Parliamentary Secretary Bernard Trottier, on behalf of the Honorable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and the Honorable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honorable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a $6.5 million contract to Babcock Canada Inc. for critical refit work for Canadian Coast Guard ship CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent. The contract was awarded as the result of an open and competitive procurement process. The shipyard portion of the work will be carried out by Chantier Davie Canada Inc., a sub-contractor to Babcock Canada.

The CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent is Canada's largest and heaviest icebreaker. While in drydock at the Davie Shipyard in Lévis, Québec, the vessel will undergo critical maintenance. This work will be completed prior to the vessel’s deployment to the Arctic to provide icebreaking services and other activities including scientific research, search and rescue support, and delivery of essential supplies to remote communities.

“Our Government has invested more in the Coast Guard than any other Government in Canadian history,” said Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. “Through the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy we are revitalizing Canada’s Coast Guard fleet so it can continue to keep our waterways safe and accessible while at the same time developing long-term economic opportunities for the Canadian shipbuilding industry.”

The refit work to be completed on the vessel includes regulatory maintenance to the propulsion systems, hull, auxiliary/domestic systems and the navigation and communications systems.

Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, said, “Davie has a long history of shipbuilding excellence in Québec and around the world. This contract for refit work on Canada’s flagship icebreaker is just one example of how this government is making strategic investments that will not only ensure that the Coast Guard can continue its vital work, but will also support job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity right here in Lévis.”

According to the Canadian Association of Defense and Security Industries (CADSI), the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy is expected to provide 15,000 high-value jobs and $30B in economic benefit over the next 30 years.

Economic benefits from the strategy will flow to the broader marine industry, generating employment for skilled workers in a variety of sectors, such as steel manufacturing, information technology and defense systems.